This and That from Here and There: September 2022

Monday, September 26, 2022

Tranquilo

That's the name of our new little canine friend here at Don David's here in Quito.

He's a pretty cute little ball of fluff!

Reminiscences

The first picture is probably pretty self-explanatory, at least for those who know where I spent last year.

And this one...

Last year, one of our sweet Littles in trying to address my co-worker and me by name went with "Dane-Dane" for Dana and "Dum Dum" for Kamela. SO, when we lunched at this restaurant the other day, I just HAD to get a picture. :-)

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Have you ever eaten ice cream with cheese on top?

Lunch out with Sra. Mery and her son, Israel

Monday, September 19, 2022

Why yes, Mom...

I did just have chocolate cake for supper!

For the record, this is not a typical Ecuadorian supper, but it is not completely unusual in this home where the folks own a bakery. :-)

Today's trip to the supermarket

Today, Jill and I decided to go to SuperMaxi to see what is available in the big Ecuadorian grocery stores these days. We were very impressed! The variety is much greater than it was when we both left the country two years ago, which we both found a little surprising given the events of the past two years. Nevertheless, we were both pleased to be able to find a few products that we hadn't been able to get here before.

I took a few pictures in the store of things I haven't seen too often in our local grocery stores back home.

Can you tell what this is?

(Hint: Your mom probably taught you not to stick it out at anybody!)

Pig hoof

Pork kidneys

Beef heart

Beef kidneys

Cow stomach

"Chicken paws"

Or perhaps you'd just prefer a few snacks...

Plenty of Chifles:

There was also one can of root beer and one can of Dr. Pepper, neither of which had I ever seen down here before. I bought them both just because.

Sunday Lunch Out

After Sunday morning meeting and a noon gospel meeting, Jill and I went out to eat with Rebekah M. (from New Zealand, resident of Ecuador) and Maricela B.

Jill, Rebekah, Kamela, Maricela

Friday, September 16, 2022

Cafecito con los siervos

The brothers will be leaving this part of the field on Monday, so it was nice to have a cup of coffee with them and discuss some field things before their departure.

Kamela, Jill Y, Scott P, Alberto B

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

My first meal in Ecuador...

... was NOT chicken and rice! After picking me up at the airport, the brothers in this field, Scott P. and Alberto B., took me out to a lovely Italian restaurant where we enjoyed pizza and salad.

On our way to lunch, we passed by... Chicago???

Leg 2 - Miami to Quito

No, it was NOT a full flight. We were probably 50 passengers or less, so we had plenty of room to spread out!

The view as we left Miami

First view of Ecuador through the clouds

And then I just kept taking pictures! Here are just a "few."

Arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador a little after 1:00 pm on Monday, September 12

The first leg of the journey

Taking off from Chicago, O'Hare Airport at 5:18 am

The sun's coming up.

Breakfast in the sky

The time has come!

Karmen took me to the airport for my 5:18 am flight out of O'Hare on Monday, September 12.

We look fairly awake considering this picture was taken around 3:30 am!

In between week

After clean-up at Mt. Sterling, I headed home to have some time with family before heading back to Ecuador. Kyle, Kalynn, Kaden and Ayla had made the trip up from Oklahoma to spend a few days with us. Dana came to Mom and Dad's for a couple of days. Karmen was there. Grandma Rodgers spent a fair bit of time with us. Krista and Karter came over. It was a busy week but so, so, so wonderful to have time with everyone before heading south.

Though the adults present outnumbered the littles, you will notice that reality is not reflected in the pictures below. Funny how that is!